Glasgow Sees Surge in Homeless Asylum Seekers

Glasgow has experienced a dramatic increase in homelessness applications, with numbers rising by 96% from 1,384 to 2,709 in 2023-2024, largely due to a surge in asylum seekers granted the right to remain. The city's council has responded by using 30 hotels to accommodate the influx, which has led to a doubling of placements in B&Bs. Meanwhile, UK Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle confirmed that there has been a net increase of seven hotels used for asylum accommodation under the current Labour government, despite previous pledges to end the practice. Critics, including Conservative MP Sir Gavin Williamson, argue this signifies a failure to deliver on manifesto commitments, citing a 19% increase in Channel crossings since Labour took power. Eagle defended the government's actions, attributing the current situation to issues inherited from the previous Conservative administration, particularly the scrapped Rwanda deportation policy. Local authorities are reportedly feeling sidelined by the government's decisions, raising concerns over transparency and support.